https://www.scmp.com/rss/500428/feed Before joining the Post in Washington, Mark worked in China, India and Japan for the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times and was a Knight-Wallace journalism fellow. He’s covered economic, social and political issues throughout Asia and conflicts in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, including weeks spent camping under Saddam Hussein’s bridges. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mark Magnier,Teresa Elena Frontado,Dewey Sim,Lucy Quaggin Mark Magnier,Teresa Elena Frontado,Dewey Sim,Lucy Quaggin As US President Donald Trump landed back in Washington on Friday after his two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a quick US assessment on one of the most consequential diplomatic visits of Trump’s presidency was: impressive optics, trademark flawless Chinese hosting, but disappointing concrete achievements, according to analysts, industry trade groups and former US officials. “The economic deliverables coming out of the Trump-Xi meeting are way below expectations. In light... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353782/trump-leaves-china-after-much-pomp-and-pageantry-little-show-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353782/trump-leaves-china-after-much-pomp-and-pageantry-little-show-it?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 22:50:39 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A Chinese-American was found guilty on Wednesday of acting as a Chinese agent in a case involving a Chinese police station set up in New York’s Chinatown. The week-long trial of Lu “Harry” Jianwang, 64, was seen as a test of Washington’s ability to counter what prosecutors said were efforts by Beijing to expand its influence and intimidate Chinese communities well beyond its shores. On the three charges Lu faced in the US Eastern District Court of New York, he was found guilty of acting as an... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353484/chinese-american-found-guilty-new-york-overseas-police-station-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353484/chinese-american-found-guilty-new-york-overseas-police-station-case?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 22:00:53 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Washington and Beijing have piled on irritants in advance of this week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, suggesting that neither side wants to be seen as a deal killer – even as they try to build potential leverage to bargain away, analysts and former US government officials said. Scott Kennedy, senior adviser with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said that both sides had been “picking up some chits which they might be... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353432/wary-mood-mark-xi-trump-summit-irritants-aplenty-both-sides-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353432/wary-mood-mark-xi-trump-summit-irritants-aplenty-both-sides-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 15:59:04 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A US government witness in a trial of an alleged illegal Chinese police station in New York testified on Monday that he was harassed after holding a protest against establishing the Fuzhou-directed facility, one of several that China purportedly set up overseas. The US government has charged Lu Jianwang, 64, with acting as an unauthorised agent of China; conspiracy to act as a foreign agent and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors argue that it is part of a pattern that underscores China’s bid to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353201/us-trial-hears-witness-claims-harassment-over-chinese-secret-police-station?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353201/us-trial-hears-witness-claims-harassment-over-chinese-secret-police-station?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:00:37 +0000 Igor Patrick,Mark Magnier Igor Patrick,Mark Magnier Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng will travel to South Korea this week for trade talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, both sides confirmed on Sunday, in the final round of negotiations before a summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing. The meeting is scheduled for May 12 and 13 in Seoul and comes days before Trump’s state visit to China on May 14 and 15. China’s Ministry of Commerce said He would lead a delegation to hold economic and trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353067/china-us-confirm-seoul-trade-talks-days-trump-xi-summit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353067/china-us-confirm-seoul-trade-talks-days-trump-xi-summit-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 15:50:56 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the latest part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we look at how Trump’s weakened hand could tilt summit talks. When next week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was first... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352986/trump-heads-china-weakened-xi-gains-leverage-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352986/trump-heads-china-weakened-xi-gains-leverage-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump filed an appeal on Friday after the latest legal setback to his signature tariff policy, piling on more chaos and global uncertainty and setting up a new tussle over billions of US dollars in refunds. The appeal follows a decision on Thursday by the US Court of International Trade that invalidated his use of a Section 122 trade provision that saw him slap 10 per cent import taxes on nearly every country on earth. In its ruling, the court found that he failed to meet the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352965/trump-appeals-latest-court-loss-tariffs-chaos-and-uncertainty-amp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3352965/trump-appeals-latest-court-loss-tariffs-chaos-and-uncertainty-amp?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 22:29:53 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A trial of a US citizen of Chinese descent accused of creating a covert police station in Manhattan opened on Wednesday, considering evidence of what the US government says is part of Beijing’s bid to expand its influence well beyond Chinese shores. Lu Jianwang, 64, faces three charges in the US Eastern District Court of New York: acting as an unauthorised agent of China; conspiracy to act as a foreign agent; and obstruction of justice. He is accused of using the fourth floor of a building in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352677/us-trial-opens-over-alleged-chinese-secret-police-station-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352677/us-trial-opens-over-alleged-chinese-secret-police-station-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 23:40:42 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The scheduled summit next week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will almost certainly include proclamations about cooperation, friendship and respect between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, but beneath the surface, major trade conflict is building, said trade experts on Wednesday. In the past, a weaker China was forced to grit its teeth and grudgingly accept US tariffs, export restrictions and other restrictions, but Beijing has quietly and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352674/trump-xi-summit-hides-simmering-trade-tensions-under-surface-industry-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 21:11:48 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier China’s top UN diplomat slammed the US on Friday over its coercive behaviour, sanctioning of Chinese vessels and firms and for starting the Iran war along with Israel as Beijing assumed the rotating one-month presidency of the UN Security Council. The verbal blast came as Washington heaped more pressure on China on Friday by sanctioning a China-based petroleum terminal operator, the latest in a string of recent US moves to cut off Chinese funding to Iran under what the White House has dubbed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352197/chinas-un-envoy-blasts-us-bullying-sanctions-widen-trump-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352197/chinas-un-envoy-blasts-us-bullying-sanctions-widen-trump-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 21:25:14 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Matt King, a 34-year-old graphic designer living in New York, has long grappled with his identity as the son of a Canadian-Chinese mother and white father. Despite being born in the US and raised in Los Angeles, he is aware that mainstream US society does not always see him as a bona fide US citizen. “You’ll always get … a sprinkling of this ‘you’re not truly American’,” the 34-year-old resident of Brooklyn, New York, said, prompting him to claim his own definition. “To me, being an American is... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352088/many-asian-americans-feel-excluded-true-us-identity-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3352088/many-asian-americans-feel-excluded-true-us-identity-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The United Nations is bloated, costly, badly in need of reform, and too often works against US interests, but pulling out of the international organisation would see China expand its influence and leave Washington at a major disadvantage, according to testimony before a House oversight committee on Wednesday. The hearing came as the administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed an “America first” overhaul of international funding, leaving the UN, over the past 18 months, at what... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351920/un-bloated-costly-china-fears-should-keep-us-involved-house-committee-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351920/un-bloated-costly-china-fears-should-keep-us-involved-house-committee-told?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:39:41 +0000 Mark Magnier,Yuanyue Dang Mark Magnier,Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump and other top administration officials were likely targets of a gunman who tried to storm a White House correspondents’ dinner, the acting US attorney general said on Sunday, after a major security breach in the heart of Washington. Chaos erupted at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night as shots were fired near a security checkpoint outside the subterranean ballroom where the glitzy, high-profile event was being held. Secret Service agents, weapons drawn, rushed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351447/trump-evacuated-white-house-correspondents-dinner-after-security-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351447/trump-evacuated-white-house-correspondents-dinner-after-security-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:53:20 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad again on Sunday, just hours after US President Donald Trump told his special envoys not to go to Pakistan for ceasefire talks. Araghchi had left Pakistan’s capital on Saturday night after meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Pakistan has been trying to get US and Iranian officials back to the negotiating table after Trump last week announced that a two-week... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351442/trump-cancels-envoys-trip-pakistan-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351442/trump-cancels-envoys-trip-pakistan-peace-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:16:19 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Holly Chik Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Holly Chik US President Donald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with “representatives from the Iranian delegation” this weekend, the White House confirmed on Friday. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Trump-friendly Fox News that the “America first” president will be “dispatching” the duo “tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks” and “hear the Iranians out”. Though she did not mention who would be representing Tehran, Pakistan... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351355/irans-foreign-minister-expected-pakistan-raising-hopes-talks-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351355/irans-foreign-minister-expected-pakistan-raising-hopes-talks-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:39:19 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In the latest cycle of threats and concessions that have marked US President Donald Trump’s approach to the war that he and his Israeli counterpart started against Iran, the mercurial leader said on Thursday he would destroy any boat attempting to lay mines in the blocked Strait of Hormuz. His focus on diminutive vessels followed his oft-repeated messaging that Iran’s larger naval vessels no longer exist as he renewed his effort to muscle Tehran’s frustratingly resilient regime to concede... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3351209/trump-says-navy-will-shoot-and-kill-boats-laying-mines-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3351209/trump-says-navy-will-shoot-and-kill-boats-laying-mines-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:15:37 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In an apparent sign that Tehran blinked first in the blockade showdown between Iran and the US, the two sides announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open and operational after nearly seven weeks that have seen hundreds of ships blocked and sent energy prices soaring worldwide. “IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!” US President Donald Trump said on social media, using an unofficial name for the strategic waterway. Iranian... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350530/iran-us-say-strait-hormuz-fully-open-commercial-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350530/iran-us-say-strait-hormuz-fully-open-commercial-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:51:26 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier China has crafted markets, mechanisms and incentives as the world’s largest buyer of commodities in a bid to free itself from its dependence on the US dollar, but the biggest threat to Washington’s global dollar dominance may well be Washington itself, witnesses said in testimony on Thursday before a key advisory committee to the US Congress. Economic sanctions and access to US-led global banking systems are a powerful US tool that can be used to great effect, said experts before the US-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3350382/why-biggest-threat-us-global-dollar-dominance-may-well-be-washington-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3350382/why-biggest-threat-us-global-dollar-dominance-may-well-be-washington-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:42:50 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Washington’s senior envoys to the United Nations took a victory lap in Senate testimony on Wednesday over the US-inspired cuts and efficiency drive at the multilateral agency, even as they slammed its inability to end the conflict in Ukraine, stem the Iran war started by the US and Israel or curb China’s growing clout. Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the UN, touted the US$570 million in UN budget cuts, 3,000 fewer jobs and the US decision to pull out of several UN agencies, even as he defended US... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350229/us-envoy-waltz-touts-america-first-policy-budget-cuts-senate-swipe-un?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350229/us-envoy-waltz-touts-america-first-policy-budget-cuts-senate-swipe-un?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:29:48 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Russia and China’s top envoys met in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss the Iran war, Ukraine and Taiwan as Beijing stepped up its Iran war diplomacy and tensions with Washington increased. In a jab at Washington and US President Donald Trump that did not mention either by name, a Chinese readout of the meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov noted that the world is increasingly marked by turmoil and instability. The two top diplomats also discussed plans... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350099/top-russian-and-chinese-envoys-meet-beijing-discuss-iran-ukraine-and-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350099/top-russian-and-chinese-envoys-meet-beijing-discuss-iran-ukraine-and-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:59:47 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim As US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping prepare to sit down in the coming weeks, negotiations on deliverables and scheduling have accelerated, including a possible visit to Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and a military parade, according to several people familiar with the planning process. The lead-up for such a consequential summit has been compressed and rather disjointed given the Middle East war and Trump’s preference for making last-minute decisions based on his “gut”. “This... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350079/trump-xi-summit-shaped-uncertainty-not-strategy-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350079/trump-xi-summit-shaped-uncertainty-not-strategy-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:13 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Whether it wraps up quickly or drags on, the repercussions of the US-Israeli war on Iran will echo for years, reshaping warfare, geopolitics, energy security and global perceptions of American tactical and strategic power. In the first of a three-part series, Mark Magnier looks at how the Iran war may alter Beijing’s approach to potential conflict over Taiwan, asymmetrical weaponry and the United States as an adversary. The US military is formidable, well-disciplined, projects deadly force... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349130/how-lessons-iran-war-could-shape-mainland-chinas-calculus-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349130/how-lessons-iran-war-could-shape-mainland-chinas-calculus-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:01:07 +0000 Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan Mark Magnier,Khushboo Razdan After avoiding much of the churn, firings and senior official turnover that marked his first term, US President Donald Trump on Thursday added to the string of high-profile departures in recent days, as bad news heaped more pressure on the White House. The administration announced that US Attorney General Pam Bondi was leaving to be replaced by her deputy, Todd Blanche, in an acting capacity. “We love Pam,” Trump wrote on social media. “She will be transitioning to a much-needed and important... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348858/trump-fires-pam-bondi-us-attorney-general-amid-epstein-files-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:20:46 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump denied on Thursday that he was desperate for a deal with Iran, swinging between threats and diplomacy, while presenting a series of “boats of oil” that reportedly made it through the blocked Strait of Hormuz as an Iranian “gift” – a reveal that he teased a day earlier. This comes as the war he and Israel launched against Iran approaches the one-month mark with little end in sight, driving oil prices up globally and further unsettling the global economy. “I read a story... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348058/trump-claims-iran-begging-make-deal-teases-new-aid-farmers-amid-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348058/trump-claims-iran-begging-make-deal-teases-new-aid-farmers-amid-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:59:13 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Beijing’s long-standing geopolitical playbook – stay in your lane, avoid military entanglement, prepare exhaustively and issue bland “win-win” statements about the UN charter and calls to talk not fight – could see China emerge favourably from the Iran war, said economists, analysts and former US officials, as the conflict enters its fourth week with little end in sight and the US barrelling ahead. “People always say that China doesn’t understand the Mideast,” said Jeremy Chan, senior analyst... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347827/why-chinas-strategy-stay-out-iran-war-working-and-crisis-may-spur-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347827/why-chinas-strategy-stay-out-iran-war-working-and-crisis-may-spur-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Like many Asian-Americans, US-born Tiffany Chin has faced her share of slights, including being treated as “other” or “foreign” and judged at times by her race rather than her accomplishments. Growing up outside Chicago, she recalls that in primary school her musical talents were attributed to her “Chinese genes”, and she was told, “you’re probably so good at maths because you’re Asian”. And as an adult on a family trip to Florida, people gave her nasty looks when she went jogging, wondering... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/society-culture/article/3347918/asian-americans-say-they-are-still-seen-foreign-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/society-culture/article/3347918/asian-americans-say-they-are-still-seen-foreign-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:50:58 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier After weeks of speculation and behind-the-scenes intrigue over the delayed summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Wednesday new dates for the long-anticipated, high-stakes meeting. “I’m pleased to announce that President Trump’s … long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. In a social media post, Trump described Xi as “the highly respected... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347914/xi-trump-summit-white-house-locks-new-dates-may?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347914/xi-trump-summit-white-house-locks-new-dates-may?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:46:14 +0000 Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Alyssa Chen Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump teased on Tuesday that Iran had made an energy-related concession involving the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as “positive”, without providing details. “They gave us a present and the present arrived today, and it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of ⁠money,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “It wasn’t nuclear, it was ‌oil-and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did.” This came as analysts expressed scepticism that backchannel... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347742/are-efforts-broker-peace-deal-between-iran-and-us-doomed-fail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347742/are-efforts-broker-peace-deal-between-iran-and-us-doomed-fail?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Mark Magnier,Zhuang Pinghui Alyssa Chen,Mark Magnier,Zhuang Pinghui US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US would halt military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days following discussions with Tehran, but Iranian officials quickly denied talks were ongoing, labelling them “fake news” designed to prop up financial markets. Trump said on social media that he had instructed the Department of Defence to “postpone any and all military strikes” against power and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, “subject to [the] success of ongoing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347612/trump-says-us-will-halt-military-strikes-iranian-power-plants-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347612/trump-says-us-will-halt-military-strikes-iranian-power-plants-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:24:58 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The House Select Committee on China released a report on Friday asserting that China is manipulating its position at the United Nations to “undermine America’s interests and advance its international ambitions”. The 34-page report makes the case that China uses budget contributions, appointments to key UN executive positions and strategically deployed troops to expand its reach. The committee did not detail how these activities differed from how most countries operate at the UN, or the influence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347399/us-claims-china-manipulating-its-position-un-undermine-americas-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347399/us-claims-china-manipulating-its-position-un-undermine-americas-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:17:06 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim Khushboo Razdan,Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim The official line is straightforward: US President Donald Trump asked for a delay to his long-anticipated summit in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and it has been pushed back by “a month or so”. According to the White House, moving the meeting allows Trump to remain in the US and manage the escalating war with Iran, including urgent efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But beneath the surface, a more complex story emerges: months of growing frustrations, mismatched expectations,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347008/what-are-real-reasons-behind-change-date-trumps-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347008/what-are-real-reasons-behind-change-date-trumps-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A high-stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday appeared to get off to a good start as the two touted the bilateral relationship and pledged to work cooperatively on trade, stabilising the global energy market and regional security. Takaichi was the first US ally to meet face to face with the mercurial president, amid concern that he would take out his anger on her for the large number of security partners who have declined to help... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3347220/trump-talks-japanese-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-positive-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3347220/trump-talks-japanese-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-positive-start?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:21:23 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Beijing is unlikely to attack Taiwan next year, given security and economic deterrents, including its belief that an amphibious assault could fail and that the technological, supply chain and investor costs would be huge, according to a US threat assessment released on Wednesday. The intelligence overview appeared to walk back a projection by the Pentagon last year that Beijing wanted to take the self-governing island by force as early as 2027 and comes as US President Donald Trump takes a more... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347083/us-assesses-mainland-china-not-planning-attack-taiwan-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347083/us-assesses-mainland-china-not-planning-attack-taiwan-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:12:46 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Thursday’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was supposed to see the two leaders sit down in advance of Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to ensure the allies were on the same page. Instead, with the US-China summit postponed and the Israel-US war on Iran going full blast, their meeting is likely to find Japan more on the defensive, according to analysts and former government officials. Takaichi would be trying to finesse shifting... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346959/delayed-us-china-summit-raises-stakes-takaichi-ahead-white-house-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346959/delayed-us-china-summit-raises-stakes-takaichi-ahead-white-house-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:59:44 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Mainland Chinese citizens feel more favourable towards Taiwan than they did six months ago, support a hardline stance towards the US if another trade war erupts and view Russia and North Korea most positively and Japan least positively among their neighbours, according to a new survey by the Carter Centre and Emory University. One finding that comes through loud and clear, its authors said, is that mainlanders believe they have arrived and their country now belongs in a grouping limited to China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346151/mainland-chinese-see-taiwan-positively-wont-retreat-us-trade-war-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346151/mainland-chinese-see-taiwan-positively-wont-retreat-us-trade-war-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:50:18 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier,Xinmei Shen Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier,Xinmei Shen US President Donald Trump called on Iran’s armed forces on Thursday to surrender or face the consequences and urged the nation’s diplomats to request asylum at their postings around the world. “I’m once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and the police, to lay down their arms,” Trump said. “So you’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity, or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death, and I don’t want to see that.” Speaking at the White House at a sports... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3345628/trump-says-he-must-be-involved-picking-irans-new-leader-khameneis-son-unacceptable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3345628/trump-says-he-must-be-involved-picking-irans-new-leader-khameneis-son-unacceptable?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:14:18 +0000 Mark Magnier,Xinmei Shen,Finbarr Bermingham,Lucy Quaggin Mark Magnier,Xinmei Shen,Finbarr Bermingham,Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump used a White House meeting with the German Chancellor on Tuesday to blast European allies, praise China, waffle on tariffs and argue that the attack he launched against Iran prevented a nuclear war. Attended by Vice-President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that his order to attack Iran even as negotiations were under way was justified. “If we didn’t do what... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3345327/trump-says-hell-cut-trade-spain-over-iran-war-stance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3345327/trump-says-hell-cut-trade-spain-over-iran-war-stance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:25:20 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi urged his Israeli counterpart to help bring about an immediate end to the war in Iran during a call on Tuesday, reportedly held at Israel’s request. The call came three days after Israel and the United States launched a massive attack on Tehran, killing its Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his wife and senior Iranian officials, prompting largely ineffective Iranian counter-attacks across the Middle East to date. “China opposes any military strikes launched by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345325/china-urges-israel-end-war-iran-regional-tensions-escalate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345325/china-urges-israel-end-war-iran-regional-tensions-escalate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:08:00 +0000 Lucy Quaggin,Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier Lucy Quaggin,Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump said on Monday that US forces would press ahead with “ferocious, unyielding resolve” to “eliminate the intolerable threat posed by this sick and sinister regime” in Iran, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that “the hardest hits are yet to come”. “We projected for four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go longer than that,” Trump said, adding: “We’re already substantially ahead of our time projection”. In his speech on Monday at a White House... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345185/iran-strikes-day-3-trump-says-iran-operation-will-continue-5-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345185/iran-strikes-day-3-trump-says-iran-operation-will-continue-5-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:29:12 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Less than six weeks ahead of a likely summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, preparations are inadequate, bilateral contacts anaemic and outcomes diminished, according to analysts and former government officials familiar with planning. The shortfall reflected in part Trump’s reluctance to delegate, disdain for process and focus on quick wins, banking instead on personal magnetism and his “gut” as summit organising principles, they said. The planning deficit also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344769/trump-xi-summit-preparations-falter-planning-gaps-unsettle-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344769/trump-xi-summit-preparations-falter-planning-gaps-unsettle-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han,Xinmei Shen,Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han,Xinmei Shen,Lucy Quaggin,Mark Magnier In a consequential decision with billions of dollars on the line, the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower-court ruling striking down President Donald Trump’s tariffs, coming just as the White House confirmed his visit to Beijing from March 31 to April 2. The South China Morning Post had exclusively reported the trip dates last week. By invalidating tariffs imposed under emergency presidential powers, the decision removes a powerful tool the White House had used to pressure Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344180/us-supreme-court-rules-trumps-tariffs-unlawful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3344180/us-supreme-court-rules-trumps-tariffs-unlawful?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:06:49 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Working closely with like-minded countries remains the most effective strategy to counter an increasingly powerful China – in marked contrast to the policies of US President Donald Trump – said a former senior US official, while admitting that the Joe Biden administration made some key mistakes that undercut its own effectiveness. “Given the size and the immensity of the China challenge, the only way that the United States is going to be effective to meet that challenge is if we work with other... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3344053/former-biden-official-says-us-must-work-allies-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3344053/former-biden-official-says-us-must-work-allies-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:16:01 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The White House declined on Wednesday to comment on reports that US President Donald Trump is weighing whether to cancel or delay a major new arms package to Taiwan, as he seeks to keep an expected April summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on track amid pressure from Beijing. “I don’t have any announcement or updates to share,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. On Monday, Trump told journalists he had discussed the potential sales with Xi. “I’ve talked to him about it. We had a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343949/white-house-deflects-trump-weighs-taiwan-arms-sale-delay-amid-beijing-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343949/white-house-deflects-trump-weighs-taiwan-arms-sale-delay-amid-beijing-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:42:33 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US Government experienced its second shutdown in four months on Saturday, as funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) halted, underscoring Washington’s growing partisanship and dysfunction. But in an ironic twist, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, at the centre of the Congressional showdown, will continue to operate despite being part of DHS, given its independent source of funding. In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump’s administration has allocated at... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343562/partial-us-government-shutdown-throws-congress-turmoil-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343562/partial-us-government-shutdown-throws-congress-turmoil-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Xinlu Liang Fan Chen,Mark Magnier,Xinlu Liang Beijing and Washington should expand cooperation and reduce their disputes, China’s foreign minister told his US counterpart on Friday, with preparations under way for a summit in the Chinese capital in April. “Dialogue is better than confrontation, cooperation better than conflict, and win-win better than zero-sum,” Wang Yi said to Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Both countries should fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343523/china-us-top-diplomats-wang-yi-marco-rubio-meet-munich?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343523/china-us-top-diplomats-wang-yi-marco-rubio-meet-munich?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:46:04 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier As Washington withdraws from United Nations agencies and other member nations cut their funding, pushing the organisation into a severe financial crisis, the head of one well-funded agency won re-election on Thursday, despite criticism over some of his policies. The vote of 83 eligible member states saw incumbent Daren Tang Heng Shim, a Singaporean national, re-elected to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, or Wipo, by a vote of 81 to 2 against Haitian national Johanny Stanley... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343385/wipo-chief-wins-re-election-un-faces-financial-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343385/wipo-chief-wins-re-election-un-faces-financial-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:09:10 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier President Donald Trump faced noteworthy pushback over his signature tariff policy in the US Congress this week as his popularity slipped and more lawmakers in his party appeared willing to risk his wrath. While the pushback is unlikely to result in any immediate concrete change to his aggressive tariff policy, which has roiled markets and upended global supply chains, it represents a striking challenge for a president who has lashed out at critics and otherwise maintained an iron grip on his... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343243/trump-faces-rare-pushback-within-his-party-over-tariffs-polls-slide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3343243/trump-faces-rare-pushback-within-his-party-over-tariffs-polls-slide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:59:35 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen,Dewey Sim,Mark Magnier Khushboo Razdan,Xinmei Shen,Dewey Sim,Mark Magnier China has confirmed that discussions were under way about US President Donald Trump’s planned visit in April, when sources said the two sides were expected to extend their current trade truce by up to one year. Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesman, said President Xi Jinping had repeated an invitation to Trump to visit when the pair spoke by phone last week. “The two sides are in communication on this,” Lin added, stressing the importance of talks between the two heads of state. The two reached... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343240/trump-and-xi-expected-extend-trade-truce-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343240/trump-and-xi-expected-extend-trade-truce-beijing-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:43:33 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Beijing came under sharp criticism on Tuesday at a highly contentious US Congressional hearing on the influence of foreign funds in US politics – but so did US President Donald Trump. The hearing by the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which shapes tax and tariff legislation, comes amid deep partisanship and Trump’s declining popularity ahead of a November midterm election. “Tax-exempt organisations funded by foreign donors are exploiting very lucrative US tax benefits to incite violence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343119/china-and-trump-targeted-house-hearing-foreign-influence-us-non-profits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343119/china-and-trump-targeted-house-hearing-foreign-influence-us-non-profits?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:31:04 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The United States accused China on Friday of failing to disclose a 2020 nuclear test, violating what a US official suggested was an understanding involving a 1996 nuclear test ban treaty that both countries signed but neither ratified. This came as Washington called this week for a broad new arms-control treaty to include China, Russia and the US after it declined to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), the world’s last binding nuclear arms control agreement. Russia had... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342733/us-accuses-china-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342733/us-accuses-china-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:52:37 +0000